The former chief executive of BP told The Sunday Telegraph that as long as it could be done safely, the method of hydraulic fracturing for shale oil and gas should be pursued.

His comments came as Cuadrilla’s potential shale oil site outside the village of Balcombe in West Sussex attracted hundreds of protesters this weekend, angry at the potential environmental fallout from the method. Fracking involves pumping water, gas and chemicals into the ground at high pressure to fracture the rocks and release the oil or gas. However, opponents fear it could pollute water and cause earthquakes.

Cuadrilla had been drilling to explore the feasibility of extracting oil at Balcombe, but late last week halted its operations following safety advice from local police.

Along with IGas Energy, Cuadrilla is at the forefront of the UK’s burgeoning fracking industry. The company, whose shareholders include Riverstone Holdings of which Lord Browne is a partner, has licences for 10 sites across the country where fracking could be a possibility.

“This is about getting domestic resources. Domestic gas is more green than imported gas, and we need to explore as much domestic resource as we can,” said Lord Browne.

“We need to be patient and very clear about what we want to do. It’s a national purpose, it’s right for our energy security, and, if done safely, we should pursue it.”

Lord Browne also pointed to the financial benefits for communities situated near fracking sites. Energy companies including Cuadrilla have pledged £100,000 up front and then a 1pc share of the revenues if fracking succeeds.

“We strongly support the benefits flowing from gas and oil to the local economies. The Government has said communities will get 1pc of the revenue, that’s not 1pc of the profit, but 1pc of the gross revenue, which is quite something,” said Lord Browne.